Please embed video on the website:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=sUgM6FrgizU
What YOU can do to help save our oceans!!
The problems facing the world's oceans can seem overwhelming. Fortunately, you don't have to be a superhero to help save
...
the oceans. Doing your part can help protect the seas from overfishing and preserve the ocean ecosystem for the future. Try reducing your impact
...
by following these
...
suggestions:
- Get informed. Read about ocean issues. Find out which species are endangered and which are overfished. Learn about what you can do. Use the resources listed on this page to educate yourself
- See for yourself. You can visit the 14 Marine Sanctuaries across the United States and see what so many people are working to save! There are similar Marine Protected Areas around the world. Also, check out our page on Marine Protected Areas to see how these "Marine Parks" are helping the oceans worldwide and what still needs to be done.
- Tell your friends. Ideas spread best by word of mouth. Let your friends and family know that the oceans are in danger. Tell them which fish are best to eat and which ones to avoid. Public awareness is essential for protecting the oceans.
- Choose sustainable fish, such as wild Alaskan Salmon or farmed Tilapia. The Monterey Bay Aquariumpublishes an excellent "Seafood Watch List" that describes which fisheries are sustainable. The "green" fish on the list have large and well-manged populations, and eating them will have less of a harmful impact on the oceans. A list of sustainable fish retailers in the world, as certified by the Marine Stewardship Council, can be found here. [PICTURE: seafood.bmp or seafood.png]
- Eat fewer fish. Consuming fewer fish is the easiest way to reduce your impact on the ocean. There are other more sustainable sources for the nutritional benefits of fish. For instance, Omega-3 fatty acids such as walnuts, flax seed oil, and fortified products, such as orange juice or pasta (Sandon, 2007).
- Have Pets? Buy them fish-free food! One-third of all fish caught is used for fishmeal or oils, which places an even greater burden on our oceans and the aquaculture industry (Ahmed et al., 2003). There are several alternatives on the market so that your pet can eat sustainably too! Try RottLover.com or Breeder's Choice.
- Reduce your carbon footprint. Turn off the lights. Turn down the thermostat. Use energy-efficient appliances. Decreasing your energy use is good for all areas of the environment and the oceans in particular. Creating a mindset of environmental friendliness is a key to helping the ocean problem.
- Read a book. David Helvarg's book 50 Ways to Save the Ocean is a great resource for you, your family, and your friends, with simple ideas for the everyday person trying to make a difference.
- Become an activist. Gather local support for healthier oceans. Use your group to volunteer at beach clean ups and to spread the word about overfishing. Volunteering with organizations like Oceans Alive, which is a branch of Environmental Defense, is a great way to get involved on a personal level. You can also receive e-letters from Greenpeace about ways you can get involved.
- Talk to restaurants. Ask them to only serve sustainable seafood. Reducing availability of unsustainable fish is a good way to reduce consumption. The Monterey Bay Aquarium publishes cards that you can send to restaurants that help them choose which seafood to serve.
- Donate. There are many groups that promote sustainable uses of the oceans. You can support groups such as Oceans Alive, an organization that promotes eating smart and preserving our oceans; Greenpeace: Defending Our Oceans; The Fish for the Future Foundation, which was "established to improve the scientific and economic understanding of U.S. marine fisheries management and the seafood industry"; and the Monterey Bay Aquarium to fund world-class research and education.
- Contact your representative. Let your local, state, and national elected officials know that you support sustainable fishing and efforts to pursue environmentally friendly ocean policy. With your support, congress can pass restrictions on harmful fishing techniques. And remember, the fish don't have a vote...you do.
- Contact the local media. Tell them that you want more coverage about overfishing and the oceans. Local stations run public interest segments---convince the station to run a piece about the fishing and ocean.
- Stay informed. Keep up with what is happening in the marine world. Staying up to date lets you know what issues are the most pressing and keeps you active in the fight to save the oceans.
...